Fall
10
Balloon Satellite Proposal
Team: O2n Cloud 9
Team members: Ben Woeste, Brodie Schulze, Caitlyn Cooke, Ian
Barry, Lea Harris, Megan O’Sullivan, and Sebastian-Johannes Lorenz
ASEN 2500
University of Colorado at Boulder
Professor: Christopher Koehler
September 15th, 2010
Mission Statement
The BalloonSat “Cloud 9“ will rise to an altitude near 30km in order to complete
our mission. Our mission is to use this satellite to take 3D images of the clouds and
measure the levels of oxygen in the atmosphere. We will use the pictures of the clouds
and compare them to an oxygen sensor we have on board in order to indentify the effects
of the density of oxygen on the formation of clouds.
Mission Objectives
1. Construct a BalloonSat by 10/21/2010 that will reach altitudes of 30km
2. We will measure the amount of elemental oxygen in the air using an
oxygen sensor
3. Take 3D images of surrounding clouds to compare the amount of
oxygen to the type, thickness, and altitude of the clouds
Mission Overview
Through scientific discovery we have an explanation for how clouds are formed
and what they are made of. We know the environment needed for clouds to form and
what types of clouds produce certain weather. What we want to study is the level of pure
oxygen that is needed for clouds to form and with our oxygen sensor we will be able to
read how much elemental oxygen there is in the air. We can test and see if the level of
pure oxygen in the atmosphere changes as we approach clouds and the various effects of
oxygen levels on the formation of clouds, such as the effects of too much pure oxygen
may have on the formation of a cloud. The other part of our experiment is to use 3D
imaging in order to get a better idea of size and magnitude of the clouds. These images
are going to be integrated into the other data so that we can correlate the amount of
oxygen to the type, thickness, and altitude of cloud. The whole point of this experiment is
just to explore the effects of oxygen on the formation of clouds and the various levels of
oxygen and water needed for clouds to form.
Technical Overview
Structural – The structure of our BalloonSat “Cloud 9” is going to be in the
shape of a rectangular prism. The structure will be about 30cm long, 10cm tall and 10cm
deep. The reasoning behind the 30cm length will be explained in the optical section. The
prism will be made out of foam core with aluminum tape and hot glue to hold the edges.
One side of our prism will be at an angle so as to allow our cameras to get a view of the
top of the clouds. In order for our satellite to reach the target altitude we will be attaching
it to a weather balloon by a nylon flight cord through an internal PVC pipe. We must also
use insulation inside of our satellite because of the extreme cold temperatures reached
throughout the flight. For this we will use a one-centimeter thick insulation glued on the
interior of the structure and a heater. (The heater will be explained in the electrical part of
the technical overview)
Optical – Part of our experiment is to take 3D images of clouds throughout the
flight. We will be using two digital cameras in order to create an effect much like the
eyes of a human to give us depth to pictures. The two cameras will be placed on opposite
ends of our structure with 19cm in between lenses to give us the ability to have two
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Team O2n Cloud 9 Sep. 15th 2010
different angles of the same object. We will be mounting them directly to the side of the
structure and the lens will reach to the edge of the box so that only the lens will be flush
with the side. The cameras will have an unobstructed view of the outside for a better
quality image and we have decided against putting any form of window in between the
lens and the outside. The effect of having an open-air design is that we have to protect
our lenses from condensation. In order to stop water from condensing on our lenses we
have to use an anti-fog agent.
Electrical – The heater that we will make in class requires three nine-volt
batteries and these will be mounted on the inside of our structure. The heater will be
placed in the structure so that the electrical components do not get colder than 263.15 K.
This subsystem is independent of all of the others and is only wired to a switch that is on
the outside of our structure so that we can power it on and off.
The next subsystem we have to have power for is our HOBO data logger. This
subsystem has an internal power source that will last for hours, but in order to make sure
that it does not run out of battery mid-flight we will program it to delay the start of data
collection until the launch. This system logs the data of outside temperature, inside
temperature, inside relative humidity, and in our experiment will also log the oxygen
level.
The oxygen sensor will be hooked up to a 4-20mA connection. The power of this
system comes from two nine-volt batteries that will be mounted inside our structure.
The next subsystem is our cameras. These cameras will be wired together to one
power switch so that they begin taking pictures at exactly the same time. The cameras
have their own internal battery power and internal memory.
Hardware we need and where we plan to get it
Oxygen Sensor donated by In-Situ Inc.
HOBO provided by Gateway to Space class
Two cameras, one donated and one from Amazon.com
2 4Gb cards from Amazon.com
5 nine-volt batteries provided by Gateway to Space class
4-20mA cable from HOBO Onset Corporation
Plastic flight tube provided by Gateway to Space class
Foam core provided by Gateway to Space class
Aluminum tape provided by Gateway to Space class
Washers and bolts for flight tube and rope attachment provided by
Gateway to Space class
Heater provided by Gateway to Space class
Insulation provided by Gateway to Space class
Switches provided by Gateway to Space class
Illustration and Special Features of our Design
The team’s design includes two similar digital cameras side by side, which will
allow for stereoscopic imaging and provide some sense of depth in the images of clouds
obtained. The slanted side on which the cameras are mounted will allow the cameras to
point downward toward the clouds in the troposphere for a longer interval. There is an
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oxygen (O2) sensor that will add oxygen concentration data to the rest of the data
collected. These features allow for correlations to be drawn between humidity, oxygen
levels, cloud appearance, temperature, and altitude.
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How we plan to turn our design into an actual satellite
The satellite will be comprised of two separate systems, one of which will collect
qualitative data and one of which will collect quantitative data. In addition, we will have
a satellite support system.
- Qualitative System: Optical camera system
The satellite will contain two cameras spaced apart at 19 cm, which will have a primary
goal of capturing images of the clouds at various altitudes during flight. This separation
distance is optimized in order to create a focal 3D distance of 17.7 m. The cameras will
be integrated into the structure by means of a wedged insert that orients the device lenses
down at an angle of 24 degrees. Each camera will contain 2 internal AA batteries that
will provide power to the system. The camera firmware is also equipped with an internal
timing system that will control the photo-sampling rate and an internal memory card for
data storage. The simultaneity of image generation from the two cameras will allow a 3D
image to be viewed by placing the two printed photos into www.start3d.com, which
creates transition slides and then animates this. The focal distance and sampling rate
accuracy will be tested prior to launch using the website to ensure clarity of the 3D
images. If the 3D picture quality is not optimized, the camera distance within the box and
internal timing system will be revised accordingly. An external switch located outside of
the satellite structure will activate the system proceeding launch.
Quantitative System: HOBO data-logging system
The quantitative system consists of the HOBO data logger. This unit is equipped
with internal temperature, internal relative humidity, and external temperature
capabilities. The HOBO data logging system also includes it’s own internal power
source. In addition to these given parameters, the team is also planning to record oxygen
content of the atmosphere. In-Situ Inc will donate the oxygen sensor, called an RDO Pro
optical oxygen sensor. The oxygen sensor is equipped with customizable 4-20mA output
capabilities that are compatible with the HOBO data-logging device. This will be wired
to the HOBO’s 4-20mA cable, equipped with specialized 10K ohm resistor to adequately
control current input from the oxygen sensor. The system will also be wired to a 9V
battery, which will power the RDO Pro device. The RDO Pro is equipped with a
specialized current output control chip (datasheet: xtr 117) that regulates the current
being sent to the HOBO device. If the sensor unexpectedly produces a current above
25mA, the output regulator will essentially deactivate the entire system. With a 10K ohm
resistor in the system, the maximum voltage that can be obtained by the system is 2.5V,
which is the HOBO allowed specification. Thus, the HOBO data-logging device is
incapable of being exposed to an overvoltage due to the RDO Pro optical oxygen sensor.
The sampling rate of the HOBO and it’s corresponding sensors will be controlled using
the HOBO software, while the oxygen sensor sampling rate will be customized using the
Win-Situ 5 software, provided by In-Situ Inc. The data will be collected and recorded
within the HOBO data-logging device’s internal memory for the duration of the mission,
and downloaded after landing for analysis using the provided HOBO software. The team
will do a full testing analysis before launch to determine the overall functionality of the
device, as well as the accuracy of the sensors. The system design will be modified
accordingly to account for any errors. An external switch located outside of the satellite
structure will activate the system proceeding launch.
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- Satellite Support System: Heating, insulation, and condensation
To ensure performance of both the qualitative and quantitative systems, an
optimized environment will be achieved using the satellites internal support system. A
heater will be provided to the team, consisting of an external switch for system activation
prior to launch, and three 9V batteries to power the heating device during flight. One-
centimeter foam insulation will also be provided to line the satellite structure and
maximize heat efficiency. A desiccant will be donated by In-Situ Inc. and placed inside
the satellite structure to absorb moisture accumulation. Revisions to the internal heating
system will be made if the target temperature of 263.15 K is not achieved.
Data Retrieval
Satellite data retrieval will be presented in both a qualitative and quantitative
form. All data will be collected for the entire ascent and decent of the flight. For the
qualitative analysis, the two installed cameras will take simultaneous images of the
clouds during flight. The camera images will be stored in the internal memory card for
the duration of the flight. After recovery, the images from both cameras will be printed
and matched with the simultaneous image from the opposite camera. The fixed sampling
rate during flight will allow the cameras to take images simultaneously, and at various
altitudes along the flight path. The two matching images will be placed into a website,
which creates transition slides and animates them. This 3D representation will give the
team a qualitative analysis of the cloud density at various altitudes above the Earth. The
quantitative data analysis will consist of numerical measurements using the various
sensors attached to the HOBO data-logging device. Four sensors will be connected to the
HOBO including internal and external temperature, internal and external humidity, and
oxygen concentration. All data collected by the sensors will be logged within the
HOBO’s internal memory system. After recovery, the data will be downloaded from the
HOBO’s internal memory to a computer using the HOBO software. The two temperature
sensors will report data in the units of Celsius, and the humidity sensors in units of
density. The oxygen sensor however, will report the concentration of oxygen in units of
voltage, due to the 4-20mA connection. The oxygen data will be converted from voltage
to partial pressure of oxygen by application of Ohm’s Law V=IR. Using the known value
of resistance R (10k ohm) and the measured voltage, the current can be found for each
sample logged. The minimum and maximum current levels will be assigned a partial
pressure of oxygen value using the Win-Situ software provided by In-Situ Inc. Thus,
every current level on the scale from 4-20mA will correspond to a specific value of
oxygen partial pressure, which will be computed using a simple algebraic ratio. Internal
humidity readings will be evaluated to determine the efficiency of the moisture
absorption system, and internal and external temperature readings will be compared to
determine the heater efficiency.
How we will keep people from getting hurt
We will take a number of safety precautions during all construction times and
tests. During construction, if we are using power tools we will wear safety goggles and
make sure that all blades are kept away from hands. We will also be using exact-o knifes
in our construction, so we will always make sure to cut away from ourselves and others
so the knife doesn’t slip and injure someone. We will be implementing several different
tests that have fairly standard safety precautions. One safety precaution that is essential is
a warning system that the test is about to begin. The tester will ask if the other team
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Team O2n Cloud 9 Sep. 15th 2010
members are ready, and upon confirmation the tester will loudly announce the name of
the test and a countdown so all that are in earshot know the test is taking place and know
to stand clear of the test site. A safe distance for most tests we will be performing is about
a 5m radius. This safety radius however should be increased to about 10m for the drop
test, noting that the wind might carry the test satellite or pieces could come off and injure
someone. Other team members not performing the test will also watch for people passing
by and make sure that they know that a test is taking place and to stay away from the test
site. Another way to keep the team and others safe is to perform tests in a non-populated
area. Basically the key to being safe during testing and construction is to not do anything
foolish and use common sense, but having these safety procedures laid out ahead of time
will also help ensure team and passerby safety.
Functional Block Diagram
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Team O2n Cloud 9 Sep. 15th 2010
Testing of our design
There are several tests that must be done on our BalloonSat to ready it for flight.
Here we will give a description of each and how the data they give us will help ready our
satellite for flight. During all of the tests that involve the structure strength we will
simulate the mass by placing rocks or other weights inside.
-The Drop Test:
One stage of this test is dropping our structure down a flight of stairs to simulate
the impact on the structure as it hits the ground when it lands. This stage will tell us if our
structure can withstand an impact that makes the structure roll across the ground. The
second stage of this test is dropping it off a second story ledge to simulate the impact of
the landing.
-The Whip Test:
In this test we will attach a flight string to our satellite and swing it around in
circles. This test will tell us two things, one if our flight string interface is strong enough
to endure the forces that will be exerted on it from the fall back to the ground. It will also
tell us if our structure can withstand the forces acting upon it when if falls, or if it will rip
apart.
-The Cooler Test:
In this test we will be testing our internal technology and our insulation to see if it
will withstand the extreme cold of high altitude. We will place our satellite with all of our
technological components inside a cooler with dry ice in it, turn on our satellite, and see
if the internal temperature will stay above 263.15 K with our heater and insulation in
affect. The satellite will stay in the cooler for about 30 minutes to simulate the estimated
time that the satellite will be exposed to the extreme cold temperatures of high altitude.
-Camera Test
In this test we will ensure that our 3D picture taking idea can work, and we will
test all the software needed to make the 3D image. We will take our two cameras and put
them about 19 cm apart and have them take pictures simultaneously. Our object will have
to be about 17.7 meters or more away, since that is our estimate of how far away some
clouds will be from our satellite in flight. Then we will take our pictures and test our
software to make sure that the 3D image will come out, or if we need to adjust our
camera distances to ensure a better 3D picture.
-Oxygen Sensor Test
We will test our oxygen sensor by placing it in our satellite and see if it is taking
readings. It will be placed in a sample of water to check for accuracy.
-Full Mission Simulation:
We will also test our satellite as a whole, to make sure that all the components
work together. This test will also show if all components work properly in our structure.
Budget and Weight Overview
Item Cost Subtotal Purchase Location
Camera with 4GB card $ 114.49 $ 114.49 Amazon.com and shipping
O2 Sensor Donated $ 114.49 In-Situ Inc
Picture Print outs $ 5.00 $ 119.49 King Soopers in store photo
printing .20 per picture
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Stereographic Viewer $ 41.95 $ 161.44 Pokescope.com plus shipping
4GB memory card $ 29.99 $ 191.43 Best Buy
Resistor 10k Ohm 5 pack $ 0.99 $ 192.42 RadioShack
4 to 20 amp cable with $ 25.00 $ 217.42 Onset
built in resistor
Total $ 217.42
Weight (g) Subtotal (g)
2 Cameras 440 440
HOBO 30 470
Heater 100 570
Oxygen Sensor 150 720
Additional power 190 910
Foam Core 60 970
Aluminum tape 5> 975
Flight tube 5 980
Total 980
We shall keep our budget by minimizing the cost of all the supplies we require. This can
be accomplished by shopping around to find the best value for the components we need.
Another step we will follow to avoid going over budget is by prioritizing, and going
through an approval process for all purchases outside what is built into our budget and
the management part of the team will control the purchasing power.
Organizational Flow Chart
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Lea Harris (612-730-3570) Lea.Harris@colorado.edu
- Team Leader and managing director of the teams, coordinating the team and
helping in any of the building, structure, electric, or science teams.
Ian Barry (970-372-7883) Ian.Barry@colorado.edu
-Head of Structures team, designing the basic plot of the structure and the technical
design of how to make our satellite fit to the double camera and multiple sensors.
Ben Woeste-(303-257-6931) Ben_woeste@yahoo.com Head of the Optical team.
Researcher and head of the optical design team for the satellite’s 3-D picture data
and constructing the plans for the space inside our box to put the cameras.
Brodie Schulze-(970-629-3832) Keegan.Schulze@colorado.EDU Head of the
Power Team. He will be controlling the research and construction of how the three
sensors will be connected to batteries, the two cameras, and the thermal heater. One
job will be helping the structures team to place the power components in the
satellite.
Caitlyn Cooke-(530-249-2354) Caitlyn.Cooke@colorado.EDU Head of the
Electrical team that connects the Oxygen sensor to the HOBO sensors and the two
cameras to the power. Caitlyn is also the main Software Head for the specialized
sensor that requires special data retrieval.
Sebastian-Johannes Lorenz-(303-618-3160)
SebastianJohannes.Lorenz@colorado.edu Head of the Thermal Crew. Designating
where and how we wish to use the thermal temp controller. Designing the cold tests,
and making sure each subsystem is safe while in flight.
Megan O’Sullivan- (832-656-9096) megan.a.osullivan@colorado.edu Head of
the Health/Safety and Science crew. Megan will be the safe keeper on hand, with
help from Lea to control all possible injuries or stress factors. Megan is also the
Head of the Science Research to control our satellite’s main systems. This subject is
the outer science research that will link all of the different crews together to
construct the details of the satellite that don’t fall under the Electric, Optical,
Managing, Thermal, and Structural teams.
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Team O2n Cloud 9 Sep. 15th 2010